Siddharth Chatterjee: Perspectives-My work in the United Nations, the Red Cross and the Indian Army

Subscribe to this blog

sidc@alumni.princeton.edu

Posts

Mr Kenneth Frazier-CEO MerckToday is 19 August and it is World
Humanitarian Day.At a time when the pursuit of profit seems
to override any other corporate mission, Kenya’s fragile, unstable and hard to
reach North-Eastern counties is about the last place any company would consider
spending any amount of resources. Consider this. In 2014, one of the North
Eastern counties called, Mandera, had a maternal mortality ratio of 3,795 deaths per
100,000 live births, surpassing that of wartime Sierra Leone. It is inhabited by a nomadic community, riven
by internecine conflicts, pockets of extremism and cross
border terrorism. Widespread
illiteracy and cultural practices like female genital mutilation and child
marriage ensured women and girls would remain trapped in poverty and
desperation.Only the bravest and optimistic of humanitarian
agencies maintained a presence, amid shrinking budgets for international
development.In 2014, UN agencies in Kenya, like UNFPA, UNICEF
and WHO were looking…

"Image of a
'stone pelter' tied in front of a jeep as a 'human shield',will 4 ever haunt
the Indian Army & the nation!" Indian Army's Lieutenent General HS Panag, PVSM, AVSM,
(Retd) via twitter. The recent image of a young
Kashmiri man tied to an Army jeep as a human shield was heartbreaking to see.
This is not the Army I know. I am an Indian Army veteran
having served in the Special Forces. I have been in combat and have been
decorated for gallantry. That image is contrary to what
the Indian Army personifies. The Indian Army is a fine institution to which I owe
my foundation to. Countless cheer leaders and
trolls have taken to twitter to insult and abuse military veterans who have
objected to the way the Kashmiri man was treated. One of India's highly regarded retired military generals, Lt Gen HS Panag was humiliated on twitter for having
responded to this human rights violation in Kashmir. abhijeet‏Verified account@abhijeetsingerApr 16More
abhijeet…

The images from the recent gas attack in Syria, where over 80 people, including babies in diapers, can be seen painfully gasping for air before dying, are heartbreaking. These are a graphic illustration of our collective failure to protect children from cruel and inhuman treatment.
President Donald Trump correctly called it an “affront to humanity”.
The United Nations Secretary General, Mr Antonio Guterres has described Syria as one of the worst conflicts of our time. But what happened in Syria was not a one-off. Everyday millions of children around the world are caught up in crises and disasters, many of man’s own making.

As per a study by the World Bank, had the world addressed 90 percent of global unmet need for family planning by 2015, it would have reduced annual births by almost 28 million, consequently preventing 67,000 maternal deaths, 440,000 neonatal deaths, 473,000 child deaths and 564,000 stillbirths.
Global data indicates that the greatest benefits from reducing unintended pregnancies would be seen in the poorest countries, with GDP increases ranging from one to eight percent by 2035. There are few interventions that would result in such wide-ranging impacts while offering such incredible return on investment.
Governments working alone, or with development partners only, cannot do everything required to raise standards of health. They need the support of civil society and private sector with its talent, drive, expertise, and resources to leapfrog their health systems.
Turning to Kenya, it is important to note that the country has over recent years made important strides in improving health…

Consider this. The communities around the Kenya-Ethiopia border in Moyale-Borona area, have long been associated with internecine violence, extreme poverty, and environmental stress. These have led to disastrous societal consequences, including displacement, criminality and violent extremism.
The 2012-2013 intercommunal clashes in Moyale town, claimed the lives of over 200 people, destroyed thousands of properties, including schools and other social amenities. The region has been viewed as largely peripheral, both economically and politically, and therefore attracted limited public and private resources.
However, an innovative, comprehensive and integrated cross-border programme initiated by the Kenyan and Ethiopian governments, in partnership with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the United Nations (UN) is changing this narrative.
During the recent visit to Kenya by the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, President Uhuru Kenyatta specifically mentioned, …

Consider this: gender inequality is costing sub Saharan Africa US$ 95 billion annually in lost revenue. In a corporate setting, that extent of losses would call for a serious reset of the business’s operational approach.
Despite stupendous advancements in science and technology, it has taken mankind two millennia to fully realize the critical role of women in the global social and economic transformation.
For any country to realize its full economic and democratic potential, the quest for women’s participation in leadership and decision making must be embraced, understood, appreciated and prioritized.
Honored to co-author this piece with Kenya's Foreign Minister Ambassador Amina Mohamed:

Before
moving to this new role I was UNFPA's (United Nations Population Fund)Representative to Kenya since April
10, 2014. My team and I are assisting efforts to reduce the unacceptably high
maternal deaths. We have put the spotlight on the well being and protection of
the adolescent girl. Efforts are on to help end child marriage, FGM, gender
based violence & ensure their human rights to achieve their full human
potential.

Prior to joining UNFPA I was the Chief
Diplomat and Head of Strategic Partnerships and Resource Mobilization at the
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC),
since June 2011.

Most of my career has been spent serving
in countries affected by conflicts and natural disasters. I have seen firsthand
human tragedies and triumphs, from which I have
learnt important lessons.

Before joining the IFRC, I had served with
the United Nations inPeace Keeping,UNICEFandUNOPSsince January 1997. I have lived and
worked in the US, Denmark, Iraq, Iraqi Kurdistan, Jordan, Somalia, Kenya,
Sudan(Darfur), Indonesia, South Sudan, Bosnia & Herzegovina.

InSouth Sudan, I
negotiated the release and demobilized 3551 child soldiers from the Sudan
People's Liberation Army. This successful demobilization ofchild soldierswas attempted during an ongoing
conflict in 2001.

I have a Masters in Public Policy from the
Woodrow Wilson School for Public & International Affairs inPrinceton University,
USA.

Prior to joining the UN in January 1997, I
served in the Indian Army in a Special Forces unit. I was decorated for
gallantry during active service.

All press, interviews and mentioned can be
foundhere. All TV and
video interviews and speeches can be foundhere.

I am husband and a dad, I dote on my son.
I also enjoy running half marathons, biking, SCUBA diving, poetry, current
affairs and English literature. In the past he was also a keenhorseman and a parachutist.